Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition 8th Printing from February 1945 - RDJ

Alcoholics Anonymous — First Edition, Eighth Printing (February 1945)

Wartime “Small Format” Big Book — with Reproduction Dust Jacket

Description

Offered here is a First Edition, Eighth Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous, published in February 1945 by Works Publishing Inc., New York. This printing is widely known among collectors as the wartime Big Book and is the smallest format ever produced during the First Edition era.

During World War II, U.S. government regulations required publishers to reduce the size and weight of books in order to conserve paper. Alcoholics Anonymous complied beginning with the Eighth Printing, making this edition a tangible artifact of wartime America and a distinctive milestone in A.A. publishing history.

This copy is accompanied by a reproduction dust jacket, included for protection and display.

Historical Context

• The Seventh Printing (January 1945) announced size reductions but was issued largely in the original larger format and in very limited numbers

• The Eighth Printing (February 1945) fully implemented the government-mandated size reduction

• Approximately 20,000 copies of the Eighth Printing were produced

• This is the smallest of all 16 First Edition printings

Key identifying features present in this copy include:

• “IMPORTANT NOTICE” page explaining wartime size and weight reductions

• The membership update “Now We Are Fourteen Thousand” on page 391

• Correct wartime dimensions unique to the Eighth Printing

Condition

Book: Very good condition. Minimal wear to boards and spine. Slight board curvature/warp, common and expected for wartime printings. Gilt spine lettering remains bright and legible. Clean interior with no writing, names, or markings.

Dust Jacket: Reproduction

Please review all photographs carefully for detailed condition assessment.

Collector Significance

The First Edition, Eighth Printing occupies a special place in Big Book history:

• The only First Edition printing fully produced under wartime restrictions

• The smallest and most physically distinctive First Edition Big Book

• A true crossover of A.A. history and World War II publishing history

• Highly desirable for collectors seeking representative examples of First Edition variants without the cost of earlier printings

A compelling and historically rich First Edition Big Book — ideal for collectors, historians, or anyone looking to own a meaningful wartime artifact from Alcoholics Anonymous history.